Bad Popes

Pope John XII	955-963	Described by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "a coarse, immoral man, whose life was such that the Lateran palace was spoken of as a brothel, and the moral corruption in Rome became the subject of general disgrace."
Pope Benedict IX	1032-1045	A murderer and an adulterer; the Catholic Encyclopedia admits he lived a "dissolute life" and was "a disgrace to the Chair of Peter." "One of the youngest popes, he was the only man to have been Pope on more than one occasion [three times!] and the only man ever to have sold the papacy."
Avignon Papacy	1309-1377	The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1377, during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon, in France, rather than in Rome.
Great Western (Papal) Schism	1378-1418	A long series of Popes in Rome vs. antipopes in Avignon. Ended with the election of Pope Martin V. Sometimes as many as three people claiming to be the pope!
Pope Sixtus IV	1471-1484	Allegedly erected a house of prostitution in Rome. (There are questions about this fact, specifically that the only real source for it comes from an early Protestant writer and hardcore anti-catholic... hardly unbiased evidence.) Established the Sistine Chapel. Unquestionably guilty of nepotism.
Pope Pius II	1458-1464	Had two illegitimate children before he entered the clergy. Wrote some erotic works.
Pope Innocent VIII	1484-1492	Had at least two illegitimate children before he became Pope. As Pope, he raised his children to positions of authority and wealth in the Catholic Church. Guilty of simony.
Pope Alexander VI	1492-1503	Had at least four illegitimate children whom he then made rich through ecclesial appointments. He made his son, Caesar Borgia, a cardinal when he was only 18 years old. Caesar was an immoral and violent man who had his brother put to death as well as his sister Lucrezia’s husband. Pope Alexander held unspeakable orgies in his palace and kept mistresses who were married women. He died of syphilis.
Pope Julius II	1503-1513	Had at least three illegitimate children before becoming pope.

Links

• The Papacy
• "Is the Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon?"